Victoria MacKenzie-Childs, Co-Founder of Beloved Home Decor Brand, Dies at 77

Victoria MacKenzie-Childs, the ceramics artist and co-founder of the iconic MacKenzie-Childs home decor brand, died on the morning of Wednesday, March 4, at age 77. She was at the High Ridge House, a Christian Science nursing facility in the Bronx, New York, at the time of her death.

A Creative Force Behind an Iconic Brand

Victoria and her husband, Richard MacKenzie-Childs, founded their namesake company in Cayuga County, New York, in 1983.

The brand quickly became known for its whimsical, handcrafted designs — most notably the "Courtly Check" pattern, inspired by chess boards and the black-and-white tiles of Westminster Abbey. The company was eventually carried in high-end retailers including Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, establishing MacKenzie-Childs as a fixture in luxury home decor.

Financial Hardship and a New Chapter

In the early 2000s, the company entered bankruptcy proceedings. The couple sold the brand in 2001 to Pleasant Rowland, the creator of the American Girl doll brand, who restructured the business before selling it a decade later to equity firm Twin Lakes Capital. The brand is currently owned by EagleTree Capital.

Following the sale, Victoria and Richard launched a new venture, Victoria and Richard Emprise, a home furnishing and jewelry brand. In 2003, the couple purchased the Yankee Ferry, a decommissioned Ellis Island ferryboat, and converted it into a live-in floating studio.

"We were just going to use it as a studio space," Victoria said in a September 2025 short documentary by filmmaker Joshua Charrow. "But we were working there day and night. So you roll over on a bench or whatever and go to sleep."

Her Final Years

As Victoria's health declined, living on the ferryboat became increasingly difficult. She and Richard moved into the High Ridge House in October 2025. As a devout Christian Scientist, Victoria did not seek conventional medical treatment, relying instead on prayer.

Close friend Veronica Lanni, who was present at Victoria's death, told PEOPLE the end came as a shock despite her friend's declining health. "When someone's really sick, and they're not eating, they can't get out of bed, you're kind of prepared for it," Lanni said. "With Victoria, that did not happen. She was amazing the night before."

Victoria's brother, Donnie MacKenzie of Scottsdale, Arizona, said his sister had been struggling with health issues for about a year before her death. "We talked every week on the phone," he said. "Even though she was in New York and I'm here, we were very close."

'The Zest for Life You Don't Usually See'

Despite no longer creating new work in her final years, those close to Victoria described a woman who remained vibrant and optimistic. Lanni recalled trips together to the Thousand Islands in Canada and Washington, D.C.

"She's double my age. I'm 39, she's 77, but that didn't matter," Lanni said. "She was always happy, and she always was so optimistic about everything. She just had the zest for life that you don't usually see."

The MacKenzie-Childs brand released a statement following her death. "Her creative spirit laid the foundation of the brand carried on by our company today," a representative said. "Our thoughts are with her husband Richard and her loved ones during this difficult time."

Victoria was a native of San Francisco. She and Richard both earned Master of Fine Arts degrees from Alfred University in New York. She is survived by her husband Richard and their daughter, Heather Chaplet.

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